Ken Primrose and Vern Asher finished in well under an hour.<I><BR>The Eagle/Jill Mallory</I>

CANYON CITY – The loud “clang” of a “gold nugget” hitting a gold pan marked the start of the 2006 Gold Rush Run and Walk, part of the ’62 Days festivities in Canyon City.

An enthusiastic field of 33 runners and walkers (not including 3-year-old Clain Fahey in mother Amy’s backpack carrier, and a dog named Copper) completed the course. Their route took them 3.1 miles (5,000 meters) down highway 395 and up Humbolt Street, past historic spots such as Hog Point, Whiskey Flat, and Rebel Hill.

Brendon Robinson, 23 of Grandledge, Mich., was the overall winner, with a time of 19 minutes, 5 seconds. Robinson had close competition from Caleb Sturgill and Danny Cosgrove of John Day, but pulled ahead to win by 30 seconds late in the race.

Angie Allen, 17, of Mt. Vernon, was the first female finisher, with a time of 25:30. She and Robinson earned silver dollars for their wins.

Also taking home silver were Richard Thompson, Mt. Vernon, and JoLyn Stearns of John Day, the men’s and women’s over-age 40 winners.

Long-time Canyon City resident Verne Asher, 77, finished the course in well under an hour. Madison Purnell, 11 of Prairie City, was the youngest runner, yet placed fourth overall in the women’s division, with an outstanding finish of 29:30.

The Gold Rush run and walk, a popular feature of ’62 Days in the 1970s and 1980s, was resumed in 1999.

The event, reminiscent of the footraces and tug-of-wars featured in early ’62 celebrations, was sponsored by the Whiskey Gulch Gang and the Strawberry Striders running group, with the volunteer help of Doug Smith, Charol Smith, Tammy Bremner, Karen Jacobs, and Raymond Field.

– Hugh Snook

Complete results will appear next week.